Disposable illuminating endoscope and method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

A plastic sigmoidoscope has a generally tubular body with integral shield. Proximally of the shield an extension projects angularly from the body and is adapted to fit into a light source handle. Distally of the shield the body forms a speculum wall having an elongated clad light-conducting member embedded therein. The body is formed in diametrical halves each having a groove in the extension and speculum wall, continuous from the extension end to a point spaced from the end of the speculum, into which the member has been fitted before permanently securing the halves together.

United States Patent [72] lnvcntor William C. Moore 561 References CitedSkanealeles, N.Y. UNITED STATES PATENTS g 2 3,166,396 1/1965 Miller eta1 l56/293X t d J 2". 3,272,063 9/1966 Singer,.lr 350/968 [73] i z zf fk n inc 3,297,022 1/1967 Wallace 128/6 g skaneamgs h N Y 3,417,74612/1968 Moore etal. 128/6 3,496,931 2/1970 Pilling 128/6 PrimaryExaminer-Channing L. Pace Attorney-Bruns & Jenney ABSTRACT: A plasticsigmoidoscope has a generally tubular [54] ENDOSCOPE AND body withintegral shield. Proximally of the shield an extension 6 Cl 4 D projectsangularly from the body and is adapted to fit into a rawmg light sourcehandle. Distally of the shield the body forms a [52] US. Cl 128/6,speculum wall having an elongated clad light-conducting 156/293 memberembedded therein. The body is formed in diametrical [51] lnt.Cl A6lb1/06, halves each having a groove in the extension and speculum B321)1/06 wall, continuous from the extension end to a point spaced [50]Field of Search 128/4, 6, 7, from the end of the speculum, into whichthe member has been fitted before permanently securing the halvestogether.

' PATVENTEB un 1 I97: 358L738 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM C. MOORE SHEET 2 [1F 2 PATENIEU JUN 1 |97| INVENTOR. WILLIAM C.MOORE DISPOSABLE ILLUMINATING ENDOSCOPE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTUREBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an illuminatingendoscope and more particularly to such an instrument which may be soeconomically constructed as to be disposable.

Endoscopes are used for examining body cavities and must be autoclavedafter each use. This takes considerable time and at todays costs isexpensive. The medical profession is, therefore, turning to diagnosticinstruments which can be used once and then thrown away. If the cost ofa diagnostic instrument is less than the cost of autoclaving, money aswell as time can be saved by using a disposable instrument.

The trend in instruments such as endoscopes is toward the provision inthe endoscope speculum of light-conducting means so that light from alight source at the proximal end of the endoscope is conducted to thedistal end thus eliminating the light bulbat the distal end of thespeculum and the necessary connecting wires from a source of electricityoutside the instrument. Such light-conducting means comprise a bundle ofclad glass or plastic fibers or clad rod of a plastic material such asmethyl methacrylate or the like. The cladding comprises an outer layerof a transparent material having a different index'of refraction fromthat of the light-conducting material within and it is necessary toprotect the cladding from accidental removal which would cause lightloss.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates the formingof an endoscope of inexpensive plastic material by molding or otherwiseon a mass production basis. A bundle of clad fibers or a clad rod isprovided so as to extend from a projecting portion of the instrument-atits proximal end to a point spaced from the distal end of the speculumso that the emitted light can spread to illuminate the area examined.The projecting portion is adapted in the forming process to be receivedin a light source handle.

To provide for protecting the clad bundle or rod it is embedded in thewalls of the instrument by providing an instru ment divided in two partson either side of a longitudinally extending plane. Grooves are providedin each part extending from the end of the projecting portion to thedistal end of the light-conducting means so that the light-conductingmeans can be inserted in the grooves before the two halves are welded orotherwise permanently secured together.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an economicallyproduced endoscope with light-conducting means embedded in the speculumwall and extending to a protruding portion adapted to be received in alight source handle.

Another important object is to provide a method of forming such anendoscope which is economical and adapted for mass production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is'aside elevational view of anendoscope according to the invention, a light source handle beingfragmentarily shown in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one-half of the body portionthereof before it is secured to the other half which is a mirror imageof the half shown;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form ofbody half;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are leftand right-hand end views, respectively, of theendoscope of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a distal end view of the speculum portion of the endoscope ofFIG. 2A;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views on the lines 5-5 and 6-6,respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a modified form of endoscopeaccording to the invention, a light source handle being fragmentarilyshown in broken lines;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of one-half of the body portion of theendoscope of FIG. 7 before it is secured to the other half which is amirror image of the half shown;

FIGS. 9 and I0 are leftand right-hand end views, respectively, of theendoscope of FIG. 7; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views on the lines 11-11 and l212,respectively, of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIGS. 1-6 the endoscope isshown as a sigmoidoscope 10 having a generally tubular body 11 includinga tubular speculum portion 12, an integral shield 13, and a tubularproximal portion 14 separated from the speculum portion by the shield. Atubular portion 15 projects angularly from the proximal portion 14 andits free end 16 is squared or otherwise adapted to fit into a lightsource handle shown fragmentarily at 17. The end 16 may be provided witha groove 18 around the four sides of the projecting portion forreceiving ball detents, not shown, in handle 17 as is more fullydescribed in US Pat. No. 3,299,884, granted Jan. 24, I967 to W. C. Mooreet al.

A light-conducting member 20, shown as a bundle of clad fibers, isembedded in the speculum sidewall and the projecting portion 15l6 andextends from the free end of the projecting portion I6 to a point 21 inthe speculum sidewall spaced from the distal end 22 of the speculum. Itwill be understood that the ends of member 20 are fused or cementedtogether, as is customary, and provided with optically polished endsurfaces. The light-receiving surface 23 is best seen in FIG. 3 and thelight-emitting surface 24, at the point 21-, is best seen in FIG. 4.

To protect the clad member 20, the speculum portion 12 and the proximalend portion 14, up to where the member 20 enters the projecting portion15, are provided with a memberenclosing wall 25 integral with theendoscope sidewall and, with the sidewall, completely enclosing andsurrounding member 20 except for its end surfaces.

The body 11 of the sigmoidoscope is formed in two halves divided along alongitudinally extending plane, indicated at 26 in FIGS. 3 and 4, whichbisects the portions l2, l3, l4 and 15 diametrically. One body half 11ais shown in FIG. 2, the other body half 11!; being the mirror imagethereof. Provision is made for embedding member 20 in the sidewalls byforming a groove 27 in each body half, the groove extending from thefree end 16 of the angularly projecting portion of the half to the point21 in the half. In the sigmoidoscope 10 each groove 27 is semicircularin cross section and is formed along the speculum portion by thespeculum sidewall and the memberenclosing wall 25 in the half.

The member 20 in sigmoidoscope 10 is round and is inserted in thegrooves 27 of the body halves which are placed together as shown andthen welded or otherwise secured together permanently to form theunitary sigmoidoscope. Heat welding, ultrasonic welding, cementing orany other means of securing the halves together may be employed.

The central passage through the proximal end portion 14 is aligned withthe central passage through the speculum portion 12 for providing asight passage through the instrument and it will be apparent that anobturator of conventional construction may be used therewith, theobturator head being provided with a semicircular groove therealong forpassage around the member-enclosing wall 25. It will also be apparentthat the open end of the proximal portion may be provided with awindowed insufflating adapter plug or cap, if desired.

It will be noted that the groove 27 of the body half Ila shown in FIG.2, extends partially into the sidewall of the speculum portion from thepoint 21a to the speculum portion end 220. The light-emitting surface24, therefore, is viewed in its entirety in FIG. 4 but the sidewall isthinner directly below the surface 24 at the end 22 of the speculum.

In FIGS. 2A and 4A, a modification is shown in. which the bottom of theportion of groove 27 between the end surface 24b and the distal end 22bis slanted upward, as shown in FIG. 2A, so as to end in a sidewall ofuniform thickness as shown in FIG. 4A. This does not materially affectthe light output.

In FIGS. 7-12 a modified form of sigmoidoscope 30 is shown in which aflattened or oval-shaped light-conducting member is provided.

The instrument 30 has a generally tubular body 31 having a tubularspeculum portion 32, a shield 33, and a tubular proximal end portion 34from which a tubular portion 35 projects angularly. The portion 35 hasits free end 36 adapted for reception in a light source handle indicatedat 37. A

A flattened light-conducting member 40, shown as a bundle of clad fibersis embedded in the speculum sidewall and in portion 35, extends from itslight-emitting surface 44 at 41 spaced from the distal end 42 of thespeculum to its light-receiving surface 43 at the free end of portion35.

Member 40 is protected by a member-enclosing wall 45 extending along thespeculum from a point adjacent portion 35 to a point 410, the wall beingformed integrally with the instrument sidewall and, with the wallscompletely enclosing member 40. The portion of member 40 extendingthrough projecting portion 35 is, for convenience, round.

The body 31 of sigmoidoscope 30 is formed in two halves divided along alongitudinally extending plane, indicated at 46 in FIGS. 9 and 10, whichbisects portions 32, 33, 34 and 35 diametrically. One body half 3la isshown in FIG. 8, the other body half 3112 being the mirror imagethereof. A groove 47 is formed in each body half through the angularlyprojecting portion and the speculum, the groove being continuous fromthe free end of the projecting portion to the point 41 spaced from thedistal end 42. Groove 47 is round in the projecting portion but widerand shallower along the speculum to conform to the flattened portion ofmember 40.

Member 40 is placed in the grooves 47 of the body halves when they areplaced together as shown and then welded or otherwise permanentlysecured together.

It will be noted that sigmoidoscopes l and each have a shield portionwhich prevents any contact of the light source handle with the patientwhen the speculum is inserted in a body cavity. The sigmoidoscope, beingeconomically manufactured, may be thrown away after use and the lightsource handle retained for further use.

As will be apparent to those familiar with the art, the invention may beembodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit oressential characteristics thereof. The embodiments disclosed are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative rather thanrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

l. A unitary disposable endoscope comprising a body of syntheticresinous material having a generally tubular sidewall forming a speculumand a unitary elongated light-conducting member embedded in thesidewall, the member being formed of light-conducting material clad witha transparent material having an index of refraction different from thatof the lightconducting material, the body being formed of two matinghalves divided axially of the endoscope, each half having amember-enclosing wall formed integrally with the sidewall and, with theother half, providing a longitudinally extending tubular passageway inwhich the member is permanently enclosed.

2. A unitary disposable endoscope comprising: a body of syntheticresinous material having a generally tubular sidewall forming, in part,a tubular speculum; and an elongated lightconducting member embedded inthe speculum sidewall, the member being formed of light-conductingmaterial clad with a transparent material having an index of refractiondifferent from that of the lightconducting material; the body beingformed of two longitudinally divided diametrically opposed halves, eachhalf having a member-enclosing wall formed integrally with the speculumsidewall to provide a longitudinally extending groove of uniformcross-sectional configuration in which the member is permanentlyenclosed; the body havingla portion projecting angularly therefrom atits proximal end, t e

projecting portion being formed as portions of the body halves which aregrooved in continuation of the speculum-half grooves and having means toengage a separable light source; the proximal end of the member having alight-receiving surface lying in the projecting portion grooves, and thedistal end of the member having a light-emitting surface lying in thespeculum-half grooves spaced from the distal end of the speculum.

3. The endoscope defined in claim 2 in which the member is a solid-cladrod having light-receiving and light-emitting surfaces at its respectiveends.

4. The endoscope defined in claim 2 in which the member is a bundle ofclad fibers, the bundle having fused portions with light-receiving andlight-emitting surfaces at its respective ends.

5. The endoscope defined in claim 2 in which the portion of the memberembedded in the speculum is round in cross section and the speculum-halfgrooves are semicircular.

6. The endoscope defined in claim 2 in which the portion of the memberembedded in the speculum is oval in cross section and the speculum-halfgrooves conform to the cross-sectional sectional shape of the membertherein.

1. A unitary disposable endoscope comprising a body of syntheticresinous material having a generally tubular sidewall forming a speculumand a unitary elongated light-conducting member embedded in thesidewall, the member being formed Of light-conducting material clad witha transparent material having an index of refraction different from thatof the light-conducting material, the body being formed of two matinghalves divided axially of the endoscope, each half having amember-enclosing wall formed integrally with the sidewall and, with theother half, providing a longitudinally extending tubular passageway inwhich the member is permanently enclosed.
 2. A unitary disposableendoscope comprising: a body of synthetic resinous material having agenerally tubular sidewall forming, in part, a tubular speculum; and anelongated light-conducting member embedded in the speculum sidewall, themember being formed of light-conducting material clad with a transparentmaterial having an index of refraction different from that of thelight-conducting material; the body being formed of two longitudinallydivided diametrically opposed halves, each half having amember-enclosing wall formed integrally with the speculum sidewall toprovide a longitudinally extending groove of uniform cross-sectionalconfiguration in which the member is permanently enclosed; the bodyhaving a portion projecting angularly therefrom at its proximal end, theprojecting portion being formed as portions of the body halves which aregrooved in continuation of the speculum-half grooves and having means toengage a separable light source; the proximal end of the member having alight-receiving surface lying in the projecting portion grooves, and thedistal end of the member having a light-emitting surface lying in thespeculum-half grooves spaced from the distal end of the speculum.
 3. Theendoscope defined in claim 2 in which the member is a solid-clad rodhaving light-receiving and light-emitting surfaces at its respectiveends.
 4. The endoscope defined in claim 2 in which the member is abundle of clad fibers, the bundle having fused portions withlight-receiving and light-emitting surfaces at its respective ends. 5.The endoscope defined in claim 2 in which the portion of the memberembedded in the speculum is round in cross section and the speculum-halfgrooves are semicircular.
 6. The endoscope defined in claim 2 in whichthe portion of the member embedded in the speculum is oval in crosssection and the speculum-half grooves conform to the cross-sectionalsectional shape of the member therein.